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Spoiled Silage 



Sour Silage 
Moldy Silage 
Rotten Silage 
Frozen Silage 



Its 

Cause and Effects 

(The sure cure is the preventive) 

by 

JOSEPH PASCOE 



SCOTT PRINTING COMPANY 

Minneapolis, Minnesota 



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Copyright, 1915 

by 

JOSEPH PASCOE 



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^CI,A420177 

JAN -3 1916 



PREFACE 

A small cause or neglect often has a great effect. 

The experience the author has had with Silos and 
Silage, since the year 1889, no doubt will prove inter- 
esting to many, as well as a source of profit. 

The intentions are to give this information in as 
brief a form as possible by eliminating all irrelevant 
matter, at the same time including nothing but what 
has been experienced by many silage feeders. 

The author lays no claim to the origin of silos and 
silage. What he knows regarding it, he owes to others. 
He has, upon various occasions, taken whole passages 
from other writers to prove his claims, without fearing 
the accusation of plagiarism. 

The feeding value of good, sweet silage and the 
profits derived from the same are no longer questioned, 
they are recognized facts. But, in showing the profits 
obtained from feeding good silage, we should be care- 
ful and not overlook the possible loss which is the result 
of feeding spoiled silage. If the author has been suc- 
cessful in making this plain, he will feel repaid for his 
labor. 

THE AUTHOR. 
November 24, 1915. 



CONTENTS 

CHAPTER I. HISTORY. 

CHAPTER H. ENSILAGE OR SILAGE. 

CHAPTER HI. AMOUNT OF SILAGE TO BE 

FED DAILY. 

CHAPTER IV. WHEN TO FILL THE SILO. 

Corn. 

Frosted corn. 

Green corn. 

Shocked corn. 

Fodder corn. 

Corn and cow-peas. 

Kafir-corn and sorghum. 

CHAPTER V. HOW TO FILL THE SILO. 

CHAPTER VL FEEDING VALUE COMPARED 

Corn Silage. 
Kafir-corn silage. 
Sorghum silage. 

CHAPTER VII. THE DAIRY COW AND HER 

TREATMENT. 

CHAPTER VIIL WHICH SILO IS THE BEST 

FOR MY USE? 



CHAPTER IX. THE SILO DOOR. 



CHAPTER X. 



CHAPTER XL 



SPOILED SILAGE AND 

EFFECTS. 

Rotten Silage. 

Moldy silage. 

Sour silage. 

(the effect on horses.) 
(the effect on cattle.) 

FROZEN SILAGE. 

The loss. 

The effect on milch cows. 
The effect on beef cattle. 
The effect on sheep. 
The effect on horses. 



ITS 



CHAPTER XII. 



ALFALFA AS A FARM PROD- 
UCT. 
Why we need alfalfa. 
Alfalfa a poor weed fighter. 
Alfalfa on the farm. 
Alfalfa as a hog feed. 
Alfalfa as a hay crop. 



CHAPTER XIII. TECHNICAL TERMS DE- 
FINED. 



CHAPTER XIV. THINGS TO BE REMEM- 
BERED. 



CHAPTER I. 

HISTORY. 

SILO (Latin — Sirus, a pit). A place to store green 
forage, and should be both air- and water-tight. To 
obtain the best results, a silo should be not less than 
twice as high as it is wide and of a cylindrical form. 

Silos are of great antiquity, and are traceable as far 
back as Euripides' time, Theophrastus and others; and 
are also found in the records of various ancient nations. 
Silos are still in use in Syria, Turkestan and parts of 
Africa. 

Mr. Mills, of New Jersey, was the first to introduce 
Ensilage or Silage in the United States, and by a system 
within the reach of most farmers, he kept one hundred 
twenty cattle and twelve horses for seven months on 
the product of thirteen acres. In 1878 Professor Cald- 
well, of Cornell University, packed short-cropped and 
straw-covered green fodder in a triangular heap, fifteen 
feet long and six feet high, rendered air-tight by one 
and one-half feet of earth. In this way green fodder 
was kept available for a year. It was not long before 
bricks and mortar, stone, cement and wood took the 
place of earth, and now the system is extensively prac- 
ticed by the better class of farmers. — Warner. 

Mark Lane Express recites that the use of the silo 
in one form or another dates back to one of the earliest 
Latin writers, who refers to subterranean vaults or 
silos, wherein the ancient Romans preserved green for- 
age, such as grain and fruit, for winter use. The Mex- 
icans have practiced the system for centuries. 

6 



Samuel Fraser, Professor of Agronomy, Cornell 
University, recites, in part, that in 1875 Dr. Manley 
Miles, of Michigan, and in 1876 F. Morris, of Maryland, 
also introduced the system into the United States. 
Many extravagant claims were advanced in its behalf 
by early enthusiasts and the lack of knowledge led to 
many failures, so that the progress made was small for 
some years. In 1882 but ninety-two farmers could be 
found who used the silo in the United States. The work 
of Professors McBryde and King, of the Wisconsin and 
other Agricultural Experimental Stations, made the 
position of the silo and silage secure. 

In ancient times any form of an excavation, regard- 
less of shape, was considered a silo. Subterranean 
vaults, holes in the side of a cliff, a dug-out, but pos- 
sibly the most commonly used was the trench, which 
was made long, narrow and deep. This, after being 
filled with forage and green fodder, was covered usually 
with a coating of straw, tramped well; then it was cov- 
ered over with earth to a sufficient depth to prevent 
freezing or to allow the air to come in contact with the 
enclosed ensilage. These antiquated forms of silos 
were discarded and replaced by the more modern silo 
of today. 

Thus one can catch at a glance some of the changes 
and improvements of the SILO, but is left to draw his 
own conclusion as to the inconvenience experienced by 
the ancient silo users, when he compares them with the 
improved silos which are in use at the present time; and 
still each year brings forth a newer and more perfected 
idea in the silo world. 

The writer is frank in saying that the acme, the 
climax of silo perfection, is still a problem which the 
future must solve. 

7 



CHAPTER II. 

ENSILAGE OR SILAGE. 

Ensilage or silage is green fodder or forage kept 
in a succulent state, and is the natural condition of 
preservation by the exclusion of air, where it undergoes 
certain changes. 

It is very essential that all feeders and silage users 
familiarize themselves w^ith the facts which are set 
forth in this book, and, if the same are complied with, 
nothing but the best grade of ensilage may be expected. 
There are no substantial arguments at the present time 
against the feeding value of good, sweet ensilage. All 
those who feed ensilage claim it to be not only the 
cheapest, but the richest, juiciest and most nutritious 
food known for stock until it can be turned out on rich 
grass pasture. 

Silage Crops are principally corn, Kafir-corn, sor- 
ghum, alfalfa, clover, millet, cow-peas, soy-beans, sugar 
beets, oats, and even weeds and thistles. All of these 
when properly harvested make good silage. 

It might be well to remember that any green for- 
age can be mixed with the above mentioned crops with 
good results. This is very clearly shown where corn 
fields which grow an abundance of weeds (wholly due 
to neglect and lack of cultivation), such as sunflowers, 
fox-grass, etc., and harvested with the corn, then placed 
in the silo, where it undergoes the fermenting process, 
after which this mixture is fed to the stock with good 
results. While the writer does not claim this mixture 
to be the very choicest grade of ensilage, he does wish 

8 



it to be understood that all such weeds bearing seeds 
that go through this process of fermentation will never 
germinate again and cause further trouble by growing 
when they are hauled back on the farm in the form of 
manure. 

Professor Robertson, of Canada, has written some 
very interesting articles on this subject, and has made 
various experiments along the line of ensilage mixture, 
making use of Indian corn, sunflower seed heads and 
horse beans. 

The principle back of the practice is to furnish 
a feed richer in protein substance than corn, and thus 
avoid the purchase of large quantities of expensive pro- 
tein foods, such as bran, oil meal, etc. 

Ontario Experimental Station found they could 
save $63 on every $200 invested in feed if they used corn 
silage in preference to hay in feeding cattle. 

The Mississippi Experimental Station found corn 
ensilage in the south the most economical means of pro- 
ducing milk, butter and beef. 

The Kansas Experimental Station not only pro- 
duced beef cheaper with silage in the ration, but also 
the silage-fed steers sold at a higher price on the market 
than did the dry-fodder steers. They found corn silage 
when put in the silo would keep for five or six years and 
retain its feeding value. 

The seasons are so uncertain that there is hardly a 
year that certain parts of Kansas, Oklahoma and west- 
ern Nebraska are not hard pressed for cattle feed, due 
to the effect of drought or hot winds, which have been 
known in two days' time to burn all vegetation to a 
crisp, leaving the affected districts in an almost desti- 
tute condition. 



The better class of farmers has become educated 
to the feeding value of ensilage, and about the time the 
hot windstorms are due, he immediately starts his corn 
binder and mowing machines, harvesting not only his 
own crops, but gathers all vegetation and forage that 
grows on highways and byways, for the purpose of 
turning it into ensilage, thus providing feed for his 
stock during the winter. The farmer who is negligent 
in this matter and does not follow the regular custom, 
which guarantees feed for his stock, ships his cattle 
out of the country poor and in a half-starved condition, 
and is very willing to take whatever he is offered for 
them. This means failure and poor management. 

Sure feed crops and live stock to consume them 
should be considered first, and cash crops second, when 
attempting to forecast the net financial outcome of the 
season's operations on any farm. Ensilage seems to 
meet with these qualifications. It is the balance wheel 
of trade. 



10 



CHAPTER III. 
THE AMOUNT OF SILAGE TO BE FED DAILY. 



Different Kinds of Stock. Pounds. 

Daily Ration 



BEEF CATTLE. 

Fattening beef cattle, Ij^ to 2 years old 20 to 30 lbs. 

Closing the feeding period (more corn and less silage) 15 to 25 lbs. 

SHEEP. 

Fattening sheep (must be fresh sweet silage) 3 to 4 lbs. 

Fattening lambs (must be fresh sweet silage) 2 to 3 lbs. 

Wintering breeding sheep (fresh silage and warm barn) 3 to 5 lbs. 

CATTLE. 

Wintering breeding cows (fresh silage and good oat 

straw) 30 to 40 lbs. 

Wintering calves and yearlings (fresh silage, little corn) 15 to 25 lbs. 

MILCH COWS. 

Fresh silage, good water and warm barn 30 to 50 lbs. 

HORSES. 

Matured animals (depending on their size) 20 to 40 lbs. 

Mares (with sucking colts, peck of silage, twice a day). 
Weaning colts (one gallon twice a day). 
Mules, feed same as horses (one gallon to peck at a 
meal). 



CAUTION. All animals should be fed lightly, 
until they become used to silage. 



11 



CHAPTER IV. 
WHEN TO FILL THE SILO. 

It is very important that one should know the 
proper time for filling the silo, as well as to know how 
to fill the silo, so that the best results may be obtained, 
thereby eliminating the possibility of having low grade 
if not spoiled ensilage. 

Corn. 

The proper time for corn to be placed in the silo is 
when it has reached the highest degree of maturity. 
This means when the corn has become hard and glazed, 
with as many green leaves on the stalk as possible. 
The condition of the corn is apparent by the appear- 
ance of the leaves. When the leaves begin to turn 
brown and die next to the bottom of the stalk it is a 
sure and unfailing sign that the corn is ready for the 
silo. Corn cut and placed in the silo at this period needs 
no water, as there is plenty of juice in the stalk to create 
natural preservation through fermentation. 

Frosted Corn. 

Frosted corn or corn which has been struck by the 
frost, if left standing too long before placing in the silo 
is not materially damaged for silage purposes, but if it 
is left to stand for any great length of time it becomes 
dry and woody. It is of extreme importance to then 
dampen it with water. If this is done at the time of 
filling the silo, one can expect a very good grade of 

12 



silage, which can be fed with perfect safety, without 
experiencing any unfavorable results. 

Corn Siloed Too Green. 

Corn that is cut and siloed too green, that is, when 
it is still in the milk stage, works an unnecessary hard- 
ship, as it acts as a laxative on the cattle, causing them 
to scour. It is too washy, — as a feed there is not body 
enough to it. When fed in winter time the cattle show 
the effect of cold weather by chilling very easily. One 
who has made the mistake of harvesting the corn too 
green can greatly overcome these results by sprinkling 
over each ration of silage a light covering of oats. This 
will have a tendency to check the scours, so that the 
feed is not an entire loss. 





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Corn Siloed from the Shock. 

Corn can be taken from the shock after it has stood 
in the field four or five months, and if rightly handled 
it will make very good silage. This has been accom- 
plished by cutting the fodder very short (or cut fine, 

13 



as it is dry, woody and fibrous), and mixing it with 
alfalfa, supplying plenty of water. During the time of 
fermentation the juice from the alfalfa acts on the corn 
in such a manner that the coloring of the corn is to a 
large degree reclaimed. The aroma and the feeding 
qualities are nearly what they would have been had the 
corn been cut in a ripened condition. 

Corn Mixed with Cow-Peas. 

Possibly the best and choicest feed known to silage 
users and feeders is made by mixing cow-peas, or some 
legume plant, with corn properly matured. In this 
mixture are all the elements necessary to make the very 
choicest feed and it is eaten ravenously by cattle, horses 
and hogs. The odor is an appetizer within itself. Corn 
and alfalfa, the two standard feeds, mixed has made a 
wonderful record when fed in this manner. 

Fodder Corn. 

Fodder corn is usually planted very thick, so as to 
produce a greater amount of forage, but has very small 
ears or nubbins, if any at all. Since the fodder is minus 
the richness of the ears, it has been demonstrated in 
various communities throughout the middle states, that 
by mixing this fodder with alfalfa, clover or any legume 
plant, passing it through the ensilage cutter as it goes 
into the silo, where it undergoes the changes known as 
fermentation, it is rendered into a very desirable feed, 
especially for dairy cattle and young stock. This same 
mixture will also apply to Kafir-corn or feterita, both 
of which are known for their heavy foliage. 

Kafir-Corn and Sorghum. 

The proper time for siloing Kafir-corn or sorghum, 
as is true with all other crops for the making of good 

14 



silage, should be when practically matured, with the 
stalks still filled with sap. Silage feeders are unani- 
mous regarding the results and profits made from the 
feeding of such silage. 

It is not the good silage, but it is the spoiled silage 
that does not meet with their endorsement and ap- 
proval. Such spoilage is largely due to neglect and the 
lack of knowledge of the proper time to harvest the 
crop, and the proper care that ensilage must have in 
order to retain its feeding value. This subject is fur- 
ther discussed under the heading of ''Spoiled Silage and 
Its Efifects," which please read. 



15 



CHAPTER V. 
HOW TO FILL THE SILO. 




Three wood Silos, erected 1889. 



State of Nebraska, 



^ss. 



County of Dodge. 

I, Oliver S. Taylor, of Fremont, Nebraska, first 
being duly sworn upon oath, depose and say that I was 
in the employment of the Standard Cattle Company, in 
the year 1889, during which time these three silos were 
erected, as shown by the accompanying picture. With 
a few repairs to the roof and doors the silos apparently 
are in as good condition as they were at the time of 
their construction. 

(Signed) O. S. TAYLOR, 
Ex-foreman and cattle feeder. 
Subscribed and sworn to by the above named O. S. 
Taylor before me and in my presence, this, the eighth 
day of January, 1914, A. D. 

F. DOLEZAL, 

Notary Public in and for Dodge Co., State of Nebr. 

16 



It was in the year of 1889, on the Standard Cattle 
Company's ranch, near Fremont, Nebraska, when the 
writer received his first experience in the art of silo fill- 
ing and the feeding of ensilage. At that time it was 
wholly an experiment with all of us, consequently it 
required several years to learn the details of silo filling 
•to obtain the desired results. The first fodder was cut 
in long lengths, possibly two inches if not longer, but, 
when the time came for feeding the silage, it was found 
that the cattle would eat every morsel, except the hard 
fibrous pieces of corn stalks, which would be left in the 
troughs. At the time of the next feeding these hard 
butts of cornstalks would be shoveled out of the feed- 
ing troughs and fresh silage again fed to the cattle. 

This process went on for two years. The third 
year the silos were filled, the fodder was cut in much 
shorter lengths, possibly not to exceed one inch. Upon 
feeding this silage it was found that the whole ration 
would be eaten, butts and all. This led to the conclu- 
sion that fodder should never be cut in lengths to exceed 
one inch and less if possible. 

There are two reasons why fodder should be cut 
fine. First, the cattle will consume all of the silage, 
cleaning their troughs at each feeding, and thus none of 
the silage goes to waste. Second, the silage will pre- 
serve better, and pack more closely in the silo, which is 
necessary for proper preservation of the silage through 
the exclusion of the air. 

The art of filling the silo correctly is a matter of no 
small importance, and when the time comes for feed- 
ing, the ensilage will tell the story better than it can be 
described in a book, if it has been properly prepared. 

One has no more right to condemn the silo for the 

17 



loss of his feed than he has in condemning a bank for 
the loss of his money. The fault is not in the silo, nei- 
ther is it in the bank. It is the man inside of the silo 
or bank, who has been entrusted with the account. 

The filling of a silo requires two or three good men 
inside who are personally responsible for the condition 
of the silage, as it will appear at the time of feeding. 
The surface of the silage must be kept as nearly level as 
possible. Should the fodder be left to form piles and 
not evenly distributed, mold spots will appear at the 
time of feeding or when the silage is taken out. The 
pressing or tramping of silage should be done with care 
and precaution. The more silage is tramped the better, 
especially next to the silo wall. This part of the silo 
must be well tramped or there will be a ring of rotten 
silage form around the entire silo. The fodder as it 
comes into the silo through the blow-pipe should be 
placed where needed and leveled wholly by the aid of 
the distributer, without forking it about in the silo. 
The least a fork is used the better, as the fork will pick 
up the fodder, allowing the kernels of corn or grain to 
remain in one place without being properly mixed. 
This should be observed carefully and guarded with 
care. 

The silo being filled, or nearly so, there should be 
enough chaff or straw (oat straw preferable), well sat- 
urated with water, passed through the silage cutter to 
cover the top to a depth of about one foot, then tramp 
well, and over this coating of straw sprinkle a couple 
bushels of oats. The heat of the silage will cause the 
oats to sprout and grow, thus sealing the silage so that 
there will be none of it spoiled when the silo is opened 
for feeding. This method is very simple and equally 
effective. There has been and possibly always will be 

18 



a great deal of speculative talk regarding the cost of 
filling a silo. Some claim "It costs too much to fill a 
silo," etc., while others claim that "the filling of a silo 
is no more expensive than putting up so much hay." 
Now, what is the reason for those two contradicting 
statements? Looking at it from various angles it is 
simply this. One thinks he knows how to handle men 
and machinery, but doesn't, while the other knows how 
to handle men and machinery, and does it. 

The information and facts that have been gath- 
ered from Experimental Stations in every section of the 
United States, unqualifiedly shows that a man who has 
a silo to fill and really knows how to handle his help can, 
with the force of men usually obtained from three 
neighbors in the same community, fill their own silos 
without any additional help, thus storing away suffi- 
cient feed for their cattle at a cost not to exceed 75 
cents per ton, and hundreds of farmers claim the cost 
not to be over 50 cents per ton. 



19 



CHAPTER VI. 

FEEDING VALUE OF CORN, KAFIR AND SOR- 
GHUM ENSILAGE COMPARED. 

The Kansas Agricultural College finished in May 
the most important feeding demonstration that has 
been made in the past twenty-five years. It was made 
to determine the comparative feeding value of ensilage 
made from corn, Kafir-corn and sorghum. The experi- 
ment was made with both beef and dairy cattle, and 
showed with both that, pound for pound, the silage from 
all three crops had practically the same feeding value. 
It proved that the best crop to grow for silage was the 
one that, where grown, would make the largest tonnage 
per acre. These demonstrations benefit a larger area 
and a greater number of farmers than any others that 
have been made for years. The test with beef cattle 
was made with Hereford calves, ten in each lot. 

Below is the record made: 

Ration. 

Lot 1 Lot 2 Lot 3 

Original value $ 7.80 $ 7.80 $ 7.80 

Value of the lot 325.40 321.65 333.90 

Original weight .... 4,172 lbs. 4,124 lbs. 4,281 lbs. 

Feed Consumed. 

Corn silage 27,431 lbs. 

Kafir silage 30,865 lbs. 

Sweet sorghum silage 30,855 lbs. 

Cotton seed meal .. 927 lbs. 927 lbs. 927 lbs. 

20 



Details. 

Final weight 5,700 lbs. 5,751 lbs. 5,865 lbs. 

Total gain 1,528 lbs. 1,627 lbs. 1,584 lbs. 

Average daily gain. . 1.;/^ lbs. 1.62 lbs. 1.58 lbs. 

Cost of feed $55.05 $54.96 $54.94 

Daily cost by head.. 0.055 0.0549 0.0549 

Cost of grain 3.60 Z.2>7 3.46 

Value hundred weight 7.50 7.60 7.50 

Final value by lot. . . 427.50 437.07 439.87 

Profit by lot 47.05 60.46 51.03 

Kafir silage made 28% more profit than corn sil- 
age, and sweet sorghum silage made 8% more profit 
than corn silage. Corn silage has usually produced bet- 
ter gains than either Kafir or sorghum silage. The rea- 
son found was that the Kafir-corn and sorghum-made 
silage for this feeding test was cut when the seeds were 
practically matured, but while the stocks were still 
green and filled with sap. 

Dairy cattle. This test covered a period of two 
years, when it was found that silage made from corn, 
Kafir-corn and sorghum were practically equal, pound 
for pound, for milk production. 



21 



AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENT STATION, 

COLUMBIA, MISSOURI. 

Bulletin No. 112. 

Corn Silage for Fattening Two-Year-Old Steers. 

H. O. Allison. 

With the introduction of corn silage as a feed for 
fattening cattle, during recent years, new questions con- 
cerning this branch of agriculture have arisen. Perhaps 
those relating to the relative value of corn silage and 
its proper combination with other feeds are of first con- 
sideration. It is recognized that all of the arguments 
for and against the use of this feed in fattening cattle 
are not to be found in a study of its food value alone, 
yet without doubt they are the prime importance. The 
Missouri Experimental Station has been feeding corn 
silage to beef cattle for a number of years with success. 
The results reported herein include those from a test 
which began in December, 1910, and closed in April, 
1911. 

It was the purpose of this test: First, to secure 
data concerning the relative value of clover hay and 
corn silage when each is used as the only roughage in a 
ration for fattening two-year-old steers. Second, to 
compare silage with shock-corn on the basis of approxi- 
mately equal quantities of dry matter fed in each form. 
Third, to ascertain the importance of feeding a dry 
roughage, such as clover hay, in addition to silage. 
Fourth, to study the value of nitrogenous concentrate 
when fed in a ration where corn silage was used. 

Five lots of two-year-old cattle were used in the 
trial. Four lots contained five head each and one lot 
four head. The feeding period lasted for 130 days. The 
following rations were fed to the various lots. 

22 



Lot 1 — Shelled corn. 

Linseed Oil meal (1 lb. to 6 lbs. of shelled 

corn). 

Clover Hay. 

Lot 2 — Shelled corn. 

Linseed Oil meal (1 lb. to 6 lbs. of shelled 

corn). 

Corn silage. 

Lot 3 — Shelled corn. 
Corn silage. 
Clover hay. 

Lot 4 — Shelled corn. 

Linseed oil meal (1 lb. to 6 lbs. of shelled corn). 
Corn silage. 
Clover hay. 

Lot 5 — Shelled corn. 

Linseed oil meal (1 lb. to 6 lbs. of shelled corn). 
Clover hay. 

Shock-corn (equal quantity of dry matter as 
Lot 4 received as silage). 

Each lot was given all the feed that would be eaten 
without waste. The proportion of linseed oil meal to 
shelled corn was the same in all lots where both of 
these feeds were used. 

At the beginning of the test, three pigs were al- 
lowed to follow each lot of cattle, in order to utilize 
feed which would otherwise go to waste. It was de- 
cided at the close of the first 60 days that another pig 
could be added to advantage to each of the first four 
lots, consequently this change was made. As the num- 
ber of steers in Lot 5 had been reduced to four head, 
it did not seem necessary to add a pig to this lot. 

23 



The following is the "Summary of Weights and 
Gains on Steers and Pigs." 



liOt 

No. 



Average weight 
per steer 


Average 
gain per 

steer 
180 days. 


beginniDg 
of ezperi- 

meut 
(poundB) 


Close of 

experi- 

ment 

[gounds] 


946.13 


1342.13 


396.00 


978.86 


1344.13 


365.27 


962.86 


1262.86 


300.00 


961.59 


1371.53 


409.94 


981.91 


1391.91 


409.90 



Oain on 

pigs 
prod need 
per steer 
130.day» 
(ponnds) 



1 Shelled corn, linseed oil meal and 

clover hay 

2 Shelled corn, linseed oil meal and 

corn silage 

3 Shelled corn, corn silage and 

clover hay 

4 Shelled corn, linseed oil meal, corn 

silage and clover hay 

5 Shelled corn, linseed oil meal, 

shock corn and clover hay 



71.86 
74.00 
37.80 
60.87 
86.50 



COST, SELLING PRICE AND PROFITS. 



Lotl. 
Cost per 100 lbs. gain (pork 

credited at $6.00 per cwt.)..$6.46 
Selling price per cwt. in Chicago 6.25 
Profit per steer after deducting 

expense of marketing 2.82 



Lot 2. 


Lot 3. 


Lot 4. 


Lot 5. 


$6.03 


$6.27 


$5.99 


$6.28 


6.25 


6.10 


6.45 


6.35 



4.79 



2.09 



7.41 



One of the chief considerations in selecting rations 
for fattening cattle is the finish produced. The market 
value per hundred weight is considered the most definite 
means of judging the relative difference in finish. Con- 
sequently, in accordance with arrangements, a com- 
mittee of expert market judges, who knew nothing of 
the rations fed the cattle, placed market values on the 
various lots. 

Lot No. 4, which received a ration of shelled corn, 
linseed oil meal, corn silage and clover hay made maxi- 
mum gains in live weight, produced the most econom- 
ical gains, were the best finished and yielded the great- 
est profit per head. 

24 



The Farmer Proved the Experimental Station 
to be Correct. 

The following is a letter from one of the best farm- 
ers and cattle feeders in the State of Nebraska, and is 
offered as additional proof that when good silage is fed 
to cattle, nothing but the best results follow. It is not 
only gratifying but certainly must be very encouraging 
to the different State Experimental Stations to know 
their demonstrations have met with' success. When 
Mr. Mitchell decided to use silage for feed, he imme- 
diately opened up a set of books and kept an itemized 
account of every transaction. 

The writer was a member of the committee which 
audited Mr. Mitchell's books. Both the committee and 
the bank were satisfied the account which is set forth 
in Mr. Mitchell's letter had been kept correctly. 

Yutan, Neb., June 5th, 1913. 

To Whom Concerned: 

"In the year 1911, I purchased a 100 ton silo, with 
a guarantee that if the silo did not pay for itself the 
first year they would take it down and return me every 
dollar I paid for it. Having confidence in the firm, I 
gave my order for a silo and immediately opened a set 
of silo accounts, which resulted in a handsome profit 
after the cost of the silo had been deducted. 

"In 1912, I gave my order for another silo, as my 
first silo was not large enough. I used the first silo 
for stock cattle and the 120 ton silo for feeding pur- 
poses, and the results are as follows: 

"I bought 35 head of feeders; I bought 18 acres o£ 
corn at $15.00 per acre; I bought $30.00 worth of cot- 
tonseed meal; I fed $120 worth of alfalfa, and after 

25 



deducting commissions, freight, yardage, interest and 
expense of filling the silo, I find that I made a net gain 
of $808.40 or profit. 

"My farm is located about one mile northeast of 
Yutan, Nebraska, and is sufficiently large to handle 
about 50 head of cattle the old way of cattle raising, 
but with the aid of my silos I can handle about 125 
head of cattle with less than half of the work and twice 
the profit. Should any one question the above facts and 
figures, I extend a welcome to any person to come and 
see that these statements are backed by the commis- 
sion merchants, the bank and the scales. 

"Carefully submitted, I remain yours truly, 

"FRITZ MITCHELL." 



26 



CHAPTER VII. 
THE MILCH COW. 



^^^i 




HOUSTON. 

The milch cow is the one animal that can be re- 
ferred to as being the mother of the farm, the producer 
in every sense of the term. She supplies us with meat, 
milk, butter, and cheese to eat, and with her hide we 
are supplied with coats, mittens and shoes to wear. In 
a word, the milch cow is the farmer's best and most 
dependable friend, and when he makes a wild specula- 
tion and gives as security, the farm, immediately he 
turns to his friend, the cow, for assistance. She, with 
all but human intelligence, always stands willing and 
ready to do her part, she goes down in the records as a 
mortgage lifter. 

She works without ceasing; night and day are the 
same to her; her labors are never ended until she has 
accomplished the desired end, even to the sacrifice of 
her young, which may be driven away to the slaughter 
block. So determined is she that the debt shall be paid, 
the mortgage shall be lifted, that she gives up all for her 
master. 

Thus, the extreme necessity and importance of the 

27 



milch cow would certainly solicit full measure in care 
and humane kindness, regular and liberal feeding of the 
choicest kinds of nutritious feed, warm, clean and sani- 
tary accommodations in her home, together with gen- 
tle treatment. The results of good care and kind treat- 
ment means larger production and better quality, which 
is the cow's method of showing her appreciation. 

The example of reciprocity is very beautifully and 
forcibly set forth in the book of Luke: 6, 38. "Give and 
it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, 
and shaken together, and running over. For with the 
same measure that ye mete withal it shall be measured 
to you again." 

The milk of the cow, which was designed by na- 
ture for the benefit of the calf, has been appropriated 
by man through the avenues of science, whereas dairy- 
ing is now recognized as being one of the greatest and 
by far the most independent money-making industries 
known to man. 

There are many very important features connected 
with this great industry which is the outgrowth of sci- 
entific research of dairying. First, the science of utiliz- 
ing all of the milk produced by the cow in the making 
of the best grade of butter, cheese, etc., without waste 
and with the least amount of expense. This is the 
science of butter-making. 

Second. To supply the cow with a milk-producing 
feed that is best adapted to her conditions for the yield- 
ing of the greatest amount of milk at the least expense. 
This is where good sweet silage plays an important 
part. You should feed liberally if you want an abund- 
ance of milk. The cow has a hard work to perform and 
it requires all the feed that she can eat, with the least 
exertion, to give the best results. 

28 



Third. There is an unspeakable profit, which 
comes from kind and gentle treatment of the cow. She 
will express her gratitude and appreciation of your 
kindness, by following you wherever you will permit 
her. At milking time she will call for you, and through 
her gentle lowing one can not be mistaken as to her 
meaning. It has been truthfully said that "a man who 
is kind to his cattle is always the best neighbor." How- 
ever, the cow may be scolded, run down by the aid of 
dogs, whipped because she failed to find the right stall, 
kicked or beaten with a milking stool by a cross, peev- 
ish keeper, who expects the cow to know more than he 
does himself (which is very often the case). The cow 
which has been so punished never fails to "play even." 
She will hold out on her milk, and if the opportunity 
presents itself, she will do a good job of kicking. 

Now, then, who taught this cow to kick? Who 
taught her to be ugly and hold out on her milk? Ask 
her keeper. The cow is exactly as he trained her (this 
is the negative side of dairying). 

A man who has invested his money in lands, cattle, 
and the necessary equipment to operate a dairy farm, 
and then misuse or fail to feed his cattle liberally, is 
certainly very short-sighted indeed. 

At this junction the writer wishes to correct a com- 
mon ''hearsay argument" which is afloat and of an erro- 
neous origin, regarding silage and the effect that it is 
supposed to have on cattle. In some localities it is not 
an uncommon thing to hear, that, "silage is the cause 
of cattle losing their teeth." Then again it is given out, 
that, "silage fed cows will not live over five or six 
years." 

Upon this particular subject the writer has endeav- 
ored at various times to trace such statements back to 

29 



their origin, but in each case nothing could be learned 
except *'hear-say arguments," which were without 
cause or foundation. The reports of silage feeders is 
quite to the reverse and certainly is very gratifying to 
know that feeders have proven such arguments to be 
untrue. 

To throw still more light upon this subject, the 
reader's attention is called to the picture of "Houston," 
which heads this chapter. This remarkable cow was 
born in the year 1895 and after serving her time with 
the Experimental Station of Minnesota, went to make 
up the car load of cows, which was sold on the mar- 
ket in the year of 1914. This lot of dairy cows had. 
been fed good sweet silage nearly all of their lives, and 
some of them all of their lives, at least until they had 
passed the period of usefulness, which was from 17 to 
20 years in the service. 

Chief T. L. Haecker, of the State University Farm, 
informed the writer that at the time of selling the above 
mentioned car load of dairy cows, that, "they were 
strong, vigorous, healthy cattle and that as far as he 
could determine their teeth have never been affected in 
the least by the feeding of silage." 

The information that is disclosed in the handling 
of this car load of cows, is all that is necessary to refute 
any and all "hearsay arguments" that have ever been 
made regarding the life of cattle or the loss of their 
teeth, by the feeding of silage. 

The following is an extract from "How to Make 
Creamery Butter on the Farm," by McLaughlin. 

"Feeding the dairy cow, should be done right after 
milking time, in which case feed flavors largely pass off 
through channels or secretions other than the milk, and 

30 



are not so noticeable. However, most dairymen and 
farmers understand this, and there is very little milk 
spoiled from this cause. 

"The feeding of the dairy cow is a very important 
matter. The composition of feeds is an interesting sub- 
ject. Most feeds can and should be grown on the farm. 
The idea of feeding dairy cows simply to dispose of 
crops is ruinous. The successful idea nowadays is to 
farm to feed dairy cows. 

"Various experts have agreed that corn silage is 
probably the best and cheapest source of succulence. 
There should be a silo on every dairy farm, which 
should be used for the purpose of furnishing this val- 
uable necessary milk-making food during the winter 
and the dry months of the summer. Corn, oats and 
barley are splendid for supplying carbohydrates and 
dry matter to the dairy herd. All these can be raised 
almost anywhere. So can clover, alfalfa, sweet clover, 
vetches, cow-peas, soy-beans, and Canadian field peas. 
Each of these crops are rich in protein and ash. If you 
will feed hay, made from any of these leguminous crops, 
together with all of the corn silage that the cow will eat 
you will find that it will form a balanced ration that will 
be succulent, and also that the carbohydrates and fats 
in the corn silage will be balanced by the protein and 
dry matter in the hay. This will form a splendid ration 
for cows giving, say, from 15 to 20 pounds of milk per 
day. 

"If you are living in the corn belt, you will find that 
ground corn and cornmeal is a splendid and a cheap 
concentrated food. This should, in your case, form the 
basis of the ration. Such a ration supplies everything 
necessary except the protein, ash and the necessary va- 
riety. It would be well, however, to add such additional 

31 



rations as ground oats, bran, oil meal, dried distillers' 
grains, gluten feed or some other food rich in gluten. 

"Another very well balanced ration, when fed in 
conjunction with an abundance of corn silage, together 
with any of the leguminous hays, is a mixture of two 
parts of ground corn, one part of ground oats and one 
part of either one of the commercial by-product protein 
foods. 

"The above ration should be supplied to each cow 
at the rate of one pound each day to every pound of 
butter-fat that the cow yields each week. This is a very 
inexpensive ration. Furthermore, it gives the cow ex- 
actly what she needs to make the most milk, and the 
greatest percentage of butter-fat. 

"Right in this connection we might say that there 
is one special time that is best of all for starting the bet- 
/tering of the feeding methods of the dairy herd. This 
time is about four to six weeks before the cow is due to 
freshen. At that time it is best to turn the cow dry and 
then feed her abundantly. It must be borne in mind 
at this time that the greatest profits are returned for 
the feed used in preparing the cow for the work that is 
to come. It is best that the cow be as high as possible 
in flesh at the time she freshens. Otherwise too great a 
percentage of her food will be consumed in maintaining 
her, building her flesh, strengthening her stamina and 
not making milk, as it should. It is at this time that 
the cow that has been well fed with corn silage and good 
roughage that is high in protein, together with a care- 
fully balanced grain ration, yields the biggest profit to 
the dairyman. It is then that he begins to pocket the 
dividends that he has earned by his careful handling of 
the cow in her dry period. 

32 



"Aside from the fact that corn silage proves one of 
the best rations for milch cows, it is also one of the 
cheapest. 

"Wherever farmers have tried out this method of 
feeding the dairy herd, the economy has been at once 
evident." 



33 



CHAPTER VIII. 

WHICH SILO IS THE BEST FOR USE. 

This subject has been discussed and argued very 
extensively from the speculative viewpoint. Many spe- 
cialists abuse by misusing the speculative, to further 
their interests in a commercial pursuit. The practical, 
which is the sensible standpoint of view, clearly demon- 
strates, that any kind of a silo is better than no silo at 
all, but some silos are much better than others, viz. 

1 Some silos will stand better than others. 

2 Some silos need more attention than others, 

3 Some silos will preserve feed better than oth- 

ers. 

4 Some silos will keep feed preserved better 

than others. 

5. Some silos will freeze, while others will not. 

So strong are the arguments in favor of the differ- 
ent kinds of silos, that are presented by drilled and 
trained specialists that, very often, the prospective pur- 
chaser is at a loss to determine the kind of a silo he 
really wants, unless he understands something of the 
merits and demerits of silos. For that reason the above 
mentioned points have been given, leaving the field 
open for each man to decide for himself, the kind of a 
silo that he wants. However, it is very plain that the 
best silo to have is the silo that will preserve feed the 
best and will keep the feed best preserved. 

Before buying a silo, the purchaser should have a 
fixed idea as to what he might expect of the silo, then 

34 



consider the elementary features that enter into the 
construction of the silo that will produce results which 
will correspond with his ideas. These are all important 
and very essential; first, the exclusion of air; second, 
the retaining of heat ; third, material that will not retard 
the curing process (or natural preservation) which 
takes place during fermentation, is the right kind of 
material for silo construction, regardless of the cost. 

A silo is a mortgage lifter. A silo is the farmer's 
private bank, in which he owns all of the shares and 
stocks. So important is it, that the best building mate- 
rial is none too good and by far the cheapest. 

A silo that does not meet with the above men- 
tioned qualifications is only a trifle better than the old 
method of piling chopped fodder in the barn yard, left 
unprotected, subject to the hazardous conditions of the 
elements, where it will heat, ferment and undergo all 
the chemical changes necessary for natural preserva- 
tion, but the loss is too great. The danger that sur- 
rounds the feeding of it to animals is increased many 
times, instead of being diminished. A silo without an 
air-tight roof, is like unto a bake-oven without a top. 
Instead of retaining the heat, it is allowed to escape. 
A silo should have doors that can be opened and closed 
at the time of each feeding so as to prevent air-currents, 
through and within the silo. This subject (silo doors) 
is fully discussed under that heading, which you should 
read. 



35 



CHAPTER IX. 
THE SILO DOOR. 




Realizing the need of a more perfect silo door 
system, the Author of this volume devised and caused 
to be patented in 1915 the Duplex Silo Door, as shov^n 
in the above picture. 



36 



The door is in two parts (or halves) and operates 
in a single frame, hinged on a vertical pintle, which 
makes it possible to operate each half-door independent 
of the other. Thus only one foot of silage need be 
removed before the door can be opened. 

Each half-door is provided with a heavy iron cross- 
bar, forming a perfect ladder from the bottom to the 
top of the silo. As one ascends the ladder, his weight 
is never on the door of the silo, but is transmitted 
through the vertical cleats to the sills of the silo; thus 
the door cannot sag, pinch, bind or get out of shape. 
Further information regarding this silo door will be 
cheerfully given. 

During recent years there has been a great deal 
said, pro and con, regarding silo doors. In fact, some 
salesmen talk doors to the prospective purchaser more 
than they do silos. Because of these and other exist- 
ing facts, the writer proposes to give those who are 
interested in this subject, the benefit of his twenty-six 
years of experience, and will endeavor to present the 
features of the silo door logically and wholly upon its 
own merits, "hewing close to the line, letting the shav- 
ings fall where they will." This will be substantiated 
by a few citations from the different State Experimen- 
tal Stations, which will serve, as a basis for the solu- 
tion of the subject that has an important bearing on air- 
tight receptacles. 

It is a foregone conclusion, that, to obtain natural 
preservation by fermentation, a silo must be air-tight. 
This is accepted by all as being true, and it is admitted 
without further discussion that the air causes silage to 
spoil. Then, where is the argument? It needs no words 
of explanation. The door of a silo should be kept closed, 

37 



so as to prevent air-currents from coming in contact 
with the ensilage. 

The ordinary size of a silo-door is about 22 inches 
wide and about Z2 inches high, and usually made from 
material of the same thickness as that of the silo wall. 
This door when saturated with the juice of silage 
weighs between 60 and 75 pounds. Thus one can read- 
ily understand what a perilous proposition it would be, 
if not an utter impossibility, to open and close the silo 
door each time silage was taken out, without having 
such doors provided with hinges. Is it possible for the 
reader to imagine himself, unwise as it may seem, cling- 
ing to the side of a 30 foot silo, holding to a weak form 
of a ladder with one hand, and with the other reaching 
high above his head trying to replace a heavy door in 
its frame, which he was obliged to force open with a 
hammer?- What are the results? The door of the silo 
is left open, thus, exposing the silage to all the hazard- 
ous conditions of the atmosphere, thereby, ignoring 
(through ignorance or neglect) the fundamental princi- 
ples of preservation, which is, that a silo must be air- 
tight. The air causes silage to mold, rot, freeze and 
spoil. Yet it is claimed by some that "it is no damage to 
silage to leave the doors open." But their arguments 
are absolutely wrong, as wrong can be, and in order to 
protect themselves in making such a statement, they 
commit another wrong by saying, ''One must feed off 
2 or 3 inches of silage daily." 

The analysis of this statement is no less surprising. 
If one is obliged to feed out 2 or 3 inches of silage daily, 
what is the result? One is feeding 2 or 3 inches of 
more or less damaged silage, or why are you obliged to 
feed out so much every day? It is plain to be seen and 
easily understood that if the door had hinges so that it 

38 



could be closed it would greatly assist in keeping silage 
from spoiling. Results are what count, and you can't 
get the best results and have your silage exposed to 
the air. 

To be fair with those who are opposed to the above 
explanation, the writer will meet them half way, by ad- 
mitting that during the time which elapses from one 
feeding to another, the physical appearance of the silage 
is not so badly damaged that it might be called rotten 
silage, but from the time that the air strikes it until it 
is fed the first stages of decomposition have set in and it 
requires the "chemical test" to prove that it is not as 
good a grade feed as that farther down in the silo. In 
many cases the odor is sufficient to show that it is partly 
decomposed. To verify these claims please note the 
following citations: 

EXPERIMENTAL STATION OF NE- 
BRASKA, BULLETIN, NUMBER 138. 

"When silage ferments, carbon dioxide 
gas is thrown off. This gas is heavier than air 
and is transparent. As it is heavier than air, 
it settles to the lowest place and stays there 
unless carried away by air currents or some 
other means." 

Again in Bulletin Number 138, under the heading, 
"Amount to Be Fed" : 

"As soon as the air comes in contact with 
silage, fermentation becomes active and the 
silage soon spoils." 

Thus, it would appear that there are two conditions 
to stimulate fermentation; a fermentation that causes 
preservation through the juice of silage and exclusion 

39 



of the air, and a fermentation, caused by decomposi- 
tion of vegetation, at the time of feeding as the results 
of the air. 

EXPERIMENTAL STATION OF IOWA, 
BULLETIN NUMBER 100. 

"The silo doors should form an air-tight 
joint. It is desirable to prevent the freezing 
of silage in the silo during cold weather as 
far as possible. Freezing of silage is due to 
the loss of heat: first, through the silo wall; 
and second, to the air in contact with the feed- 
ing- surface." 



'fc> 



EXPERIMENTAL STATION OF 
COLUMBIA, MO., 
BULLETIN NO. 9. 

"Do not feed sour silage, moldy silage, 
rotten silage, or frozen silage to animals." 

The writer takes this method of showing the farm- 
er the importance of keeping the doors of his silo closed, 
as long as feed is being taken out of the silo. He has 
also tried to prove that his claims are true by referring 
to the different Experimental Station reports in the 
form of bulletins. 



40 



CHAPTER X. 

SPOILED SILAGE AND ITS EFFECTS. 

Every subject of merit will bear investigation from 
various angles. Many magazines and journals of today 
have their columns filled up with silos and silage, until 
they take the appearance of a hand-bill for a depart- 
ment store announcing a big sale. The articles written 
today are exactly the same as those written ten and 
fifteen years ago, notwithstanding there are hundreds 
of new and useful experiments being conducted an- 
nually for the purpose of demonstrating some useful 
discovery. It would seem that those who are endeav- 
oring to champion the good cause of silos and silage, 
attempting to show the farmer the profits derived from 
its use, would not leave the farmer in darkness to eke 
out by experience the amount of his loss, which over- 
shadows all profits, if spoiled silage is fed to his animals. 
Knowing the need of and the difficulties experienced in 
obtaining information on this subject, the following has 
been prepared to aid those who are inexperienced. 

Because of the similarity of the conditions and 
eflFects which moldy and rotten silage has upon live 
stock, it is thought best to treat both subjects under 
one heading. 

Moldy Silage. 

Moldy silage is one of the stages of decomposed 
silage which makes it dangerous to feed to any kind of 
live stock. It is the direct result of the lack of care and 
precaution that fodder must have during the time of 

41 



filling the silo. Mold spots will appear any place within 
the silo where the fodder has been allowed to form piles 
and not evenly distributed, the surface being left to 
settle irregularly, which will form air-pockets. The 
mold spots are the results. If fodder is ensiled too dry, 
cut in long lengths, without adding water to the fodder 
at the time of filling the silo, it is possible, if not prob- 
able, that mold nodules will form throughout the entire 
silo. Please read article "How to Fill the Silo." 

Rotten Silage. 

Rotten silage may or may not be the direct cause 
of air-pockets in the silo. However, it is more reason- 
able to understand the air was not properly extracted 
through the lack of tramping or packing during the 
time the silo was filled. Nevertheless, it is a certainty 
that after the fodder passed through the conditions of 
fermentation, the air was permitted to come in contact 
with the ensilage, which was the cause of its rotting, 
and rendered it worse than a loss for feeding purposes. 
Rotten silage is more frequently noticed in silos nearest 
the wall or doors, which is due to the lack of pressing, 
thus causing the ensilage to settle inwardly and away 
from the wall or door, forming an air-chamber in which 
the air has unrestricted circulation. 

In order to furnish the best information obtainable 
on the effects which come from feeding moldy or rotten 
silage, much time has been spent with veterinary sur- 
geons, college professors, and an extended research of 
authorities on surgery. 

It was learned that the best cure for horses, sheep 
and cattle that might become affected as a result of 
eating spoiled silage, lay in the preventive, as all 
methods of treatment so far have proved of no value. 

42 



The disease from feeding moldy or rotten silage is 
called "Cerebritis, Cerebro Spinal-meningitis." 

Effects on Horses. 




Pure-bred Percherons fed Silage and Hay only, no Corn. 'W. S. BOLES, Enid. Okla. 

The symptoms of the horse are unsteadiness in its 
walk, weakness, trembling of the voluntary muscles, 
difficulty in eating and swallowing, delirium, and in 
most cases death comes to its relief. Others are affected 
by "mad" or "blind staggers" and the only relief found 
in many surgical books was a prompt and effective lax- 
ative; then waste no time in calling a good surgeon. 

Effects on Cattle. 

The symptoms in cattle are the loss of appetite, 
constipation, weakness, heavy breathing due to the fill- 
ing of the lung tissues with poisonous gas. They, like 
the horse, become delirious and in many cases die. 
Cattle are not affected so easily as the horse, but sheep 
are affected more easily than either the horse or cattle. 
Their sickness is of less duration and death comes more 
quickly. 

It is hoped that the reader will not get the wrong 

43 



meaning of this article, and what it is intended to con- 
vey. It is the intent of the writer to recognize good, 
sweet silage, as not only a profit and a benefit in the 
widest sense of the word, but the cheapest succulent 
feed known, while moldy, rotten and otherwise spoiled 
silage is a damage and very dangerous to be used as a 
feed. This is the chief cause of dissatisfaction amongst 
silage feeders. 

Possibly nothing has ever done more to discourage 
the farmer in the building of silos than to learn from his 
neighbor, who has a silo, that he had sickness or suf- 
fered a loss in his herd when he was feeding silage. 
This farmer, who would have been a prospective pur- 
chaser of a silo the next year, without knowing the real 
cause of the trouble, immediately goes on record by 
saying "No silo for me," and starts a little campaign 
of his own, simply because the fodder was not properly 
taken care of, and, too, the feeder did not know of the 
danger and efi^ects of spoiled silage. The object of this 
book is to show the profits of sila^-e, by instructing the 
farmer how to safeguard his interests against a possible 
loss. 



44 



CHAPTER XL 

FROZEN ENSILAGE. 

If there is one subject in this book that the writer 
hopes to make more plain than another, it is the subject 
of frozen silage, so that the farmer may become thor- 
oughly conversant with the truth and facts which his 
own experience teach him. 

At the present day and age, nearly every magazine 
or journal in the country has a long, striking article of 
some kind on the profits and needs of the silo for the 
farmer, and the good results that he can obtain from 
feeding good, sweet silage, all of which is correct. Then 
possibly the very next edition, if not the same one, gives 
out this startling information, "Silage is not materially 
damaged by freezing," and finishing the story by citing 
as reference some party in a distant land, who knows 
no more about a silo than what he had read through 
some article, which originated from the same source as 
the one he, himself, was instrumental in having printed. 

Thus, the farmer who is not accustomed to feeding 
silage takes it for granted that should his silage freeze 
it is not damaged, so it is immaterial whether his silo 
has doors to open and close or a roof to prevent freezing. 
Possibly the next information that he gets is "When 
silage is frozen dig it loose, pile it in the center of the 
silo, where it will thaw-out ready for the next feeding, 
and its feeding value is in no way impaired," and many 
other statements equally extravagant. 

After the farmer has fed a few feedings of frozen 
silage (or silage which has been frozen and then 

45 



thawed-out), it is he who comes in contact with the mys- 
terious results, and it is he who begins to reflect, and, 
one after another, those imaginary statements, which 
he formerly read, are censored and blamed for not only 
the damaged condition of his feed but for the unfavor- 
able results which are sure to follow. 

Many, yes, hundreds of farmers who have experi- 
enced the results of feeding frozen silage have been 
heard to say, "I would give $100.00, if I could prevent 
my silo from freezing," for two reasons. One is, it is 
an arduous task to pick frozen silage loose, and second, 
ice water to drink and ice silage to eat do not bring 
good results when given to any kind of an animal. 

Suppose we weigh the above mentioned statements 
on the scales of actual experience, then compare those 
results with at least a barn-yard analysis of frozen silage 
and see if we can arrive at an intelligent conclusion. 

The Loss. 

The loss by frozen silage is not necessarily confined 
and restricted to the few paltry dollars which is repre- 
sented in the cheapness of the feed, nor should it be con- 
strued to mean only a dead animal. But feed of any 
kind that will deflect the appetite or otherwise impair 
the normal condition of an animal is, and should be so 
considered, a loss and poor stuff to feed. 

The right way to show the farmer the profit ob- 
tained from having a silo and feeding silage, which has 
been heretofore mentioned, is to safeguard his interests 
against a loss, which is hereinafter mentioned. 

Symptoms of Milk Cows. 

The milch cow, when fed frozen silage, loses its 
appetite, refuses to eat or drink, becomes bloated. When 

46 



standing it usually holds its head lower than normal, 
apparently cold, and the loss in the production of milk 
tells the story. 

The milch cow that is fed a ration of silage that has 
been frozen and thawed-out becomes weakened, and is 
subject to a severe attack of scours. 

Symptoms of Beef Cattle. 

After giving a lot of beef cattle a feeding of frozen 
silage, they go off from their feed so quickly that there 
could be no question as to the cause. The animals will 
refuse to eat or drink, will nose about the feed, but have 
no appetite to eat. Bloating is very noticeable. The 
frozen feed which has been eaten begins to ferment and 
thaw, and a gas forms in the lung tissues, the digestive 
system has been chilled and is inactive. This may last 
for a period of two or three days, when the animal 
either gets better or dies. 

Beef cattle which have been fed silage which has 
been frozen and then thawed-out are subject to severe 
attacks of scours. 

Symptoms of Sheep. 

The sheep, the most delicate and sensitive animal 
on the farm, poison easily and die quickly. Whole 
herds of sheep have been affected by a single feeding 
of damaged silage, frozen, moldy, rotten or soured. 
They do well on good, fresh silage. 

Experimental Station of Columbia, Missouri. Bul- 
letin Number 9, Page 65. "Damaged silage should not 
be fed to any kind of live stock, but good, fresh silage is 
a fine feed for sheep. If fed judiciously, they like it, and 
will thrive on it in the winter time as if they were on 
good pasture in the summer." The bulletin gives a very 

47 



interesting explanation of what might be called dam- 
aged silage or spoiled silage as follows: "Do not feed 
sour silage, moldy silage, rotten silage or frozen silage." 
This bulletin refers to the feeding of silage to all kinds 
of live stock. The citation regarding sheep is here 
given, as whatever a sheep will thrive on any other 
kind of an animal will do well on. 

Symptoms of the Horse. 

The horse after he has had a feeding of frozen 
silage becomes sick more quickly than the milch cow 
or the beef. He staggers and circles in his walk, he 
lays down and gets up very frequently. When laying 
down he throws his head backward. His kicking and 
attempting to roll over shows that he is in much pain 
or cramps. Drenching with a quart of sweet milk, or 
a pint of molasses mixed with warm water or drench- 
ing vvith a good laxative has been known to give relief. 

The cure that is sure, lays in the preventive, which 
is a safeguard against the loss. 

The reader of this article will now sum up all of 
the evidence which has been introduced and judge ac- 
cordingly, determine for himself, whether or not "silage 
is not materially damaged by freezing" or "when silage 
is frozen dig it loose, pile in the center of the silo, where 
it will thaw-out ready for the next feeding, and its 
feeding value is in no way impaired." 



48 



GRAND CHAMPION STEERS FED SILAGE. 

Fifteen silos, ranging in capacity from 200 to 250 
tons, will be in use this year on the ranch of Henry B. 
Johnson of Chickasha, Okla., the most important cattle 
feeder in the Southwest and one of the best known 
cattlemen in the country. Six silos were filled on the 
ranch last year and steers made such big gains on silage 
combined with other feeds to make a balanced ration 
that Mr. Johnson decided to treble his silo capacity. 
Among the steers which were fed silage last year was 
a herd of 30 Aberdeen Angus cattle, two-year-olds, 
which were declared grand champions at the Fort 
Worth Fat Stock Show last March and which were 
bought by Swift & Co. for $12 a hundred pounds, the 
highest price ever paid in the Southwest. Their aver- 
age weight was 1,360 pounds and they dressed 63.90 
per cent. They came from the herd of James W. Knox 
of Jacksboro, Texas. Mr. Johnson's cattle have won 
sweepstakes and grand championship prizes for the last 
six years and he holds the record for top prices at four 
markets — Kansas City, St, Louis, St. Joseph and Fort 
Worth. His steers are known the country over and 
command a premium. 

Since feeding silage Mr. Johnson has increased his 
profits $10 on each steer he sends to market. His in- 
vestment in the six silos is $3,300. He fed the contents 
to 1,200 steers, on each of which he made about $10, 
leaving him a profit of $10,800 or a net profit of $7,500 
after the silos had been paid for. He says there is no 
other way to make such a saving feeding cattle. The 
silo capacity of the Johnson ranch, with the completion 
of the nine new ones, will be 3,510 tons, and this will be 
mostly Kafir and corn silage and will be fed to some 

49 



3,000 to 4,000 steers this winter. There are 25,000 acres 
in the Johnson ranch, of which 400 are alfalfa. 

Erected Silos in a Hurry. 

Mr. Johnson erected his silos late and had to hurry- 
to fill them. Into the first two he put corn and into the 
last four Kafir, Milo and cane. The feed kept well and 
was started feeding October 4th. To one pen of 300 
two-year-old steers he fed a ration of 25 pounds corn 
silage and 4 pounds of cotton seed meal for sixty days. 
They were Hereford cattle and did well. A herd of 
Aberdeen Angus two-year-olds were also fed the same 
ration. A bunch of white face yearlings and a herd of 
Angus yearlings were also fed about the same ration. 
At the end of sixty days all the corn silage was used 
and Kafir and cane was fed, to which was added a ration 
of 8 pounds of corn meal and 6 to 10 pounds of cotton 
seed hulls and the cotton seed meal was increased to 
5 pounds. The first shipment of red cattle went to 
Kansas City and brought $8.10 a hundred and averaged 
1,266 pounds. The next shipment weighed 1,178 
pounds and brought $7.90 and a third lot weighed 1,164 
pounds and brought $7.80 a hundred. A fourth ship- 
ment to Kansas City weighed 1,160 pounds and brought 
$7.65. The black two-year-olds also went to Kansas 
City, where they brought $8.00, $7.90, $7.80 and $7.65, 
with an average weight of 1,150 pounds. The year- 
lings sold for an average of about $7.75 and averaged 
900 pounds in weight. These cattle were not weighed 
in the feed lot, but Mr. Johnson and his trained assist- 
ants guessed the yearlings to average about 700 pounds 
and the two-year-olds about 850 pounds. Comparing 
his feed bills with past year's, when hulls and cotton 
seed meal, ground corn and alfalfa hay were fed, showed 
that the expense of fattening cattle had been reduced 

50 



$10.00 a head. Mr. Johnson, as a result of this experi- 
ment, considers corn silage one of the richest feeds he 
ever tried. He is also well satisfied with Kafir, espe- 
cially since it can be depended upon to make an annual 
crop in spite of adverse weather conditions. 

His Silage Ran Out. 

Toward the close of the feeding period Mr. Johnson 
found that he did not have sufificient silage to continue 
feeding at the rate he had started and he was compelled 
to cut down the proportion of silage about ten pounds 
a head. Years of experience in feeding cattle, however, 
convinced him that it was the silage which was making 
the big gains in the weight of his steers and this year 
he will be prepared to fatten fully three times as many 
steers as last winter. Mr. Johnson believes in cutting 
his silage into as small pieces as possible, not larger than 
54-inch in length. This enables the cattle to eat every 
particle of the feed and not waste any. He has installed 
a 40-horsepower Ross silage cutter and blower. This 
stands in his big steel shed when not in use instead of 
out in the open to rust as so many farmers treat their 
machinery. 

"No farmer, big or small, can afiford to be without 
a silo," Mr. Johnson told the writer. "It is the only 
way to feed cattle at a minimum of cost. Any other 
way will cost a man just from $8 to $10 a head more. 
Silage increases the flow of milk at least half and young 
cattle will make faster growth on silage than on any 
other kind of feed." 

Mr. Johnson keeps books on every steer on the 
place. He is a very busy man, being a director in the 
First National Bank of Chickasha and having many 
interests throughout the state. He is also president of 

51 



the Chickasha Milling Company and a director in the 
Chickasha Cotton Oil Company. He is considered to 
be the wealthiest man in the county. He once handled 
cattle on the range and is an adept in roping a steer. 
He personally superintends every piece of work on his 
large ranch and is in the saddle or in his automobile 
early and late giving orders or making inspections. His 
home in Chickasha is one of the finest in the state, but 
he is loyal to his humble home in what was the old 
Indian Territory. 

"A farmer can't expect to succeed if he does not 
watch the leaks," is one of his favorite sayings. As an 
instance of his quickness in stopping leaks may be cited 
his erection of a feed mixing shed because he noticed 
that much feed was being blown away by the high 
winds. This was especially true of cotton seed meal. 
He says enough meal is wasted in that manner on 
dozens of farms to rob farmers of their profits on a herd 
of cattle. He says there is no limit, apparently, to the 
number of cattle that can be fattened on his ranch, ex- 
cept the inability to get young stock enough. He is a 
believer in high grade stock and pure breeds and has no 
use for "scrubs," which he says can never make anyone 
any money. 

While the erection of nine more silos on his ranch 
will keep him busy for a while, he says he probably will 
erect more just as soon as he is ready to handle more 
cattle and has raised enough feed to carry them through 
the winter. In the old cattle days it took eight to ten 
acres of grass to keep a steer in feed. If this land were 
put into Kafir one acre probably would keep ten steers, 
provided the season was favorable. — The Southwest 
Trail. 



52 



CHAPTER XIL 

ALFALFA AS A USEFUL PRODUCT. 

Alfalfa is comparatively a new crop in the United 
States, but is destined to come rapidly into general use. 
There are few farmers whose profits would not be in- 
creased greatly by raising alfalfa. Every farmer should 
aim to produce, as far as possible, all his foodstuffs on 
his own farm. 

During the last few years, the area devoted to 
alfalfa has greatly increased in the region west of the 
Missouri river, and it is certain that there will be an 
equally rapid increase throughout the eastern part of 
the United States. 

Many of the attempts in the past to grow alfalfa in 
the humid regions have failed, but with our present 
knowledge of the requirements of the crop there will be 
little, if any, more trouble in securing a stand of alfalfa 
than of clover. However, the methods followed in 
securing a catch of clover will almost certainly fail with 
alfalfa. 

Do not be hasty in concluding your stand is poor. 
It frequently shows up to better advantage the second 
year. In case the stand is not satisfactory, it is gener- 
ally better to use the same ground for a second trial than 
to take a new field. 

Why we need alfalfa. There is no combination of 
feeds so economical for the production of pork, beef, 
butter and eggs, and for growing animals as corn and 
alfalfa. Neither will give the best results alone. We 
need alfalfa because it balances up the corn ration and 

53 



saves the large waste of starch which always takes place 
where corn is fed alone. We need alfalfa because we 
can in this way grow on our own farms the protein 
more profitably than we can buy it in feed stuffs. We 
need alfalfa because it feeds the soil and enables us to 
grow larger crops of corn and oats. We need alfalfa 
because it produces, on an average, double the feed 
value per acre of clover or any other forage crop. 

Alfalfa a poor weed fighter. Alfalfa, when small, 
grows slowly, and is not a good fighter, that is, it can- 
not compete with weeds, and especially with crab grass 
and oats, wheat or barley, as the case may be, and when 
these are cut off, the alfalfa is in no condition to com- 
pete with fox-tail and other weeds during the dry 
weather of July and August. When sown in the spring 
without a nurse crop, there is a constant struggle with 
the weeds during the entire season, and the weeds gen- 
erally come out best, leaving a poor, patchy stand of 
alfalfa. 

Manure and inoculation most important. There 
is no one thing that will do more to insure success than' 
'the application of twelve to fifteen loads of good barn- 
yard manure to the acre. Land well enriched with 
manure is almost certain to produce a good stand of 
alfalfa. Lime can almost always be used to good ad- 
vantage, and the benefits are especially striking on com- 
pact clay soils that have been cropped for many years. 

In regions where alfalfa has not been grown, it is 
found to be very beneficial to inoculate the ground by 
sowing three or four bags of soil secured from a field 
where alfalfa has been grown for a number of years; 
or, where it is more convenient, artificial cultures such 
as "nitragin," "farmogerm," etc., may be applied. 
Where alfalfa has not been grown before it may make 

54 



the difference between success and failure. The appli- 
cation of acid phosphate or fine ground bone meal is 
always beneficial, but cannot be regarded as absolutely 
essential to success. 

Well prepared seed bed essential. A well pre- 
pared, firm, solid seed bed, plenty o^ good barn-yard 
manure and summer fallowing to kill the weeds, are 
most important. Lime? Yes, one to two loads per 
acre, and by all means inoculate. Ground too wet for 
corn is not suited for alfalfa. 

Alfalfa seed may be either drilled, or sowed, broad- 
cast and harrowed in, or even disked in, especially if the 
surface of the ground is dry. The seed can be more 
evenly distributed if one-half is sown in one direction 
and the other half sown at right angles. It is always 
a good plan to sow the seed a little thicker around the 
edges of the field, as this portion of the field is more 
subject to injury from insects, fox-tail, etc. 

While it is the custom in the humid regions to sow 
twenty pounds to the acre, ten to twelve pounds of seed 
per acre are sufficient. If evenly distributed, this will 
give from fifty to sixty seeds for every square foot, 
while one thrifty plant to the square foot is sufficient. 

Alfalfa on the farm. Remember that alfalfa can be 
grown on your farm. It is no more difficult to grow 
than clover and is more hardy when once established. 
It adapts itself to all kinds and conditions of soil and 
climate. Alfalfa produces three and sometimes four 
crops per year, in the corn belt. Alfalfa is the cheapest 
source of protein. When wheat bran is worth $22.00 
per ton, good alfalfa hay is worth $20.00 to $22.00 per 
ton. 

Alfalfa is the most enriching crop we have, and 

55 



insures larger yields from the crops that follow. When 
a good stand is once secured it lasts for four or five 
years in the humid regions, and much longer in parts 
of the west. Alfalfa can be fed to all kinds of animals 
and has no superior as a hog pasture. Alfalfa adds 
humus to the soil and resists drought better than other 
crops. 

As hay alfalfa has no equal. It is rich in protein, 
the very thing in which our corn and most other crops 
are deficient. Therefore, it balances up the ration and 
saves the purchase of high-priced feeds. 

This article on alfalfa certainly carries with it a 
great deal of weight, as it was prepared by one of the 
best, if not the best agriculturists in the United States, 
Prof. P. G. Holden, who formerly was connected with 
the Experimental Station of Iowa. 



56 



CHAPTER XIII. 

TECHNICAL TERMS DEFINED. 

Albuminoids. A group of substances of the high- 
est importance in feeding farm animals, as they furnish 
the material from which flesh, blood, skin, wool, casein 
of milk, and other animal products are manufactured. 
(See protein.) 

Ash. The portion of a feeding stufif which remains 
when it is burned, the incombustible part of feeds. The 
ash of feeding stufifs goes to make the skeleton of young 
animals, and in the case of milch cows a portion thereof 
goes into the milk as milk-ash. 

Bacteria. Microscopic vegetable organisms usual- 
ly in the form of a jointed rod-like filament, and found 
in putrefying organic infusions. They are widely 
diffused in nature, and multiply with marvelous rapid- 
ity. Certain species are active agents in fermentation, 
while others appear to be the cause of certain infectious 
diseases. 

Balanced ration. A combination of feeding stufifs, 
containing the various nutrients in such proportions 
and amounts as will nourish the animals for twenty- 
four hours, with the least of nutrients. 

By-products. A secondary product of an industry ; 
cottonseed meal is a by-product of the cotton oil in- 
dustry; skim milk and butter milk are by-products of 
butter making. 

Carbohydrates. A group of nutrients rich in car- 
bon and containing oxygen and hydrogen in the pro- 
portion in which they form water (Hydrogen two 

57 



parts; oxygen one part, H'O.). The most important 
carbohydrates found in feeding stuffs are starch, sugar, 
gums and crude fiber. 

Carbon. A chemical element, which, with the ele- 
ments of water, makes up the larger part of the dry 
matter of plants and animals. 

Carbonic-acid. (Carbonic-acid-gas.) A poison- 
ous gas arising from the combustion of coal or wood. 
It is formed in all kinds of fermentations and therefore 
occurs in deep silos. It is colorless, tasteless, odorless 
and heavier than air, therefore settles over the surface 
of ensilage, until disturbed by air currents or some other 
means. 

Casein. The protein substance of milk which is 
coagulated by rennet or acids. 

Concentrates. The more nutritious portion of the 
rations of farm animals embracing such feeding stuffs 
as wheat, bran, corn, oil-meal, etc., synonymous with 
grain feeds of concentrated feeds. 

Fodder corn (corn fodder). Stalks of corn which 
are grown for forage, planted very thick, from which 
the ears or nubbins, if any, are not removed. 

Corn stover. The dry corn stalks from which the 
ears have been removed. 

Crude fiber. The frame work forming the walls 
of the cells of the plant (often referred to as being 
fibrous). It is composed of cellulose and lignin, the 
latter being the woody portion of plants and wholly 
indigestible. 

Digestible matter. The portion of feeding stuffs 
which is digestible by animals, i. e., brought in solution 
or semi-solution by the digestive fluids, so that it may 

58 



serve as nourishment for the animal and furnish mate- 
rial for the production of meat, milk, wool, eggs, etc. 

Ensilage or Silage. A natural preservation of 
plants by exclusion of air. (See silage.) 

Enzymes. An unorganized or chemical compound 
of vegetable or animal origin, that causes fermentation, 
as pepsin or rennet. 

Ether extract. The portion of a feeding stuff dis- 
solved by ether; mainly fat or oil in case of concentrated 
feeding stuffs; in coarse fodders, fat, mixed with a num- 
ber of substances of uncertain feeding value, like wax, 
chlorophyll (the green coloring matter of plants). 

Feed unit. A quantity of different feeding stuffs 
that has been found to produce similar results in feed- 
ing farm animals. 

Feeding standard. A numerical expression of the 
amounts of various digestible substances in a combina- 
tion of feeding stuffs best adapted to give good results 
as regards production of anim.al products, like beef, 
pork, mutton and milk, etc. 

Fermentation. (Derived from fervere, to boil.) A 
chemical term being used to designate a peculiar class 
of metamorphoses which certain complex organic 
materials are liable to under pressure and exclusion of 
air. 

Indian corn. Zea mays, the great American cereal 
and fodder producing plant. 

Hydrogen. A chemical element, a gas. Combined 
with oxygen it forms water; combined with oxygen and 
carbon it forms carbohydrates; combined with oxygen, 
carbon and nitrogen (with small amounts of sulphur 
and phosphorus) it forms the complex organic nitrog- 
enous substances known as protein or albuminoid sub- 
stances, which see. 

59 



Legumes. Plants bearing seeds in pods and in- 
directly capable of fixing the gaseous nitrogen of the 
air, so that it becomes of value to the farmer and will 
supply nitrogenous food substances for farm animals. 
Some of the legume plants are clover, sweet-clover, 
alfalfa, cow-peas, soy-beans, vetches, etc., which are of 
the highest importance agriculturally as soil renovators. 

Moldy silage. A stage of decomposition, caused 
by air. 

Nitrogen. A chemical element, making up four- 
fifths of the air. See hydrogen. 

Nutrient. A food element or group of food ele- 
ments capable of supplying nourishment for animals. 

Organic matter. The portion of the dry matter 
which is destroyed on combustion. 

Oxygen. A chemical element of which the air is 
composed of about one-fifth, and in the combination of 
two parts of hydrogen and one part of oxygen forms 
water. See hydrogen. 

Preserving gas. (A term frequently applied to 
carbon-dioxide-gas.) A gas heavier than air and is 
commonly found in deep silos and wells. It settles to 
the lowest surface and remains there until disturbed by 
air currents or some other means. It is caused from the 
decomposition of vegetation, and is very dangerous. 

Protein. A general name for complex organic 
compounds mainly made up from the following ele- 
ments, carbon, hydrogen, oxygen and nitrogen. Pro- 
tein crude, includes all organic nitrogen compounds, 
while true protein includes such nitrogenous substances 
in feeding stuffs as are capable of forming muscle and 
other tissues in the animal body. 

Ration. The amount of feed that an animal con- 
sumes in one day. 

60 



Roughage. The fibrous, coarse or rough part of 
plants, from which it takes its name and inchides such 
feeding stuffs as stover, hay, straw, corn fodder, etc. 

Rotten silage. A stage of decomposition of vege- 
tation. It is worse than a loss. It is very dangerous 
and should not be fed to animals of any kind. 

Silage. (See ensilage.) 

Silo. An air-tight cylindrical structure used for 
the natural preservation of green vegetation, where it 
undergoes certain chemical changes. 

Spoiled silage. The condition of silage as it ap- 
pears in any one of the following forms: moldy, rotten, 
frozen, sour, frozen-thawed, or air-dried, all of which 
constitutes damaged silage, and if fed to stock the best 
results should not be expected. There are three ways 
to test silage: the chemical test, which is the most ac- 
curate, the aroma and the physical conditions of the 
silage, which is the most commonly used. 

Succulent feed. Fresh, sweet ensilage. (See en- 
silage.) 

Summer silage. It is feed, siloed in the fall and 
held over until the next summer when it is fed to stock 
to take the place of pastures. This is becoming popular 
in the middle west, especially with dairymen. 



61 



CHAPTER XIV. 

THINGS TO BE REMEMBERED. 

A loss does not necessarily mean the death of an 
animal, but anything that will cause the animal a set- 
back is a loss, with a double meaning. 

Should the feeder of silage persist on feeding dam- 
aged silage to his animals, it matters not whether it is 
fed through the folly of an experiment or through 
sheer ignorance, the results are the same, and a long 
chain of complicated troubles will certainly follow. 

Don't feed rotten silage. 

Don't feed moldy silage. 

Don't feed frozen silage. 

Don't feed sour silage. 

Don't feed silage that has been once frozen and 
then thawed, it is damaged. 

Don't harvest the corn too green, wait until it is 
more nearly matured. 

Don't feed stock too much silage on the start. 
Light feeding, then gradually increase the ration, will 
give the best results. 

Don't feed silage that is too dry, it causes soreness 
of the mouth. 

Don't cut silage more than one inch long, shorter 
if possible. 

Don't leave the door of ttie silo open, air causes 
silage to spoil. 

Don't leave the roof off (or open) on the silo, heat 
will escape. 

62 



Don't store fodder in the silo too dry, add a little 
water. 

Don't give animals ice water to drink, it chills them. 

Don't allow any animal to stand and lay down in 
mud or manure. 

Don't feed the milch cow silage before milking, 
but immediately afterwards. 

Don't scold, kick and lose fellowship with the milch 
cow. she is a producer. 



63 



Three Mortgage Lifters 



I 



The Silo 




The 


Manure 


Spreader 


The 


Cream 


Separator 



LIBRftRY OF CONGRESS 



002 766 135 P 



